Lightning Council: October 2019

Terminal Monsoon on, call for upscale the Lightning Resilient India Campaign

When Lightning is around or thunder roars, never stand under tree
Pucca shelter is safest , Dash inside your safe shelter, car, bus or cage

Lightning Protection ensure over Durga Puja Pandal , Ramlila or Ravana ground
Do not let anything Lightning Protection free

(Estimated Monsoon withdrawal start by 07/8 October and completion likely by end of October 2019)

Dear Volunteers , partners and supporting agencies and members of Lightning Resilient India Campaign

Its time for up scaling final action now . As south west monsoon withdraws, we need to be most cautious and most active towards Lightning threat. South-west monsoon 2019 is expected to withdraw within next 24 hours that is 07/08 October 2019 onwards from Rajasthan. As of now the monsoon is active over Southern, Eastern, and Northeastern India as well as Orissa. It is normal or weak over Northern, Western, and Central India. The withdrawal of South West Monsoon from rest of India is expected by 19-20 October 2019 except foothills of Himalaya which will have rains till end of October. Thus South West Monsoon is likely to stay till October 2019.

The withdrawal of monsoon or terminal monsoon is most prone to lightning. In fact more than 20% lightning occurs during the terminal phase of monsoon. The latest satellite picture and the forecast from IMD given below collaborates the same .

Satellite picture at 18:40 hours 06 Oct 2019

IMD’s Forecast on Lightning till 10 Oct 2019

The sky over Rajasthan Gujarat Madhya Pradesh western Maharashtra Goa and Karnataka and in the East , eastern Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Southern part of West Bengal, Odisha and in North East Meghalaya, Upper Assam Manipur, Tripura ,are full of lightning clouds and thunderstorm activities. The western Coast over Mumbai, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamilnadu have thundering/lightning clouds active.

I reiterate that safety and awareness that is capacity building itself can reduce the lighting deaths up to 70 to 75%. The campaign has been able to generate good result in most of the part of the country . We have seen that despite intense lightning there has been reduction in number of deaths even to 50-60% in states like Odisha and districts like Singhbhum region in south Chotanagpur ,upper Assam , Patkai hills of Shillong etc.

Lightning resident India campaign so far has been able to generate good awareness towards lightening early warning , safety and Dos and Don’ts. Life has been saved in hundreds . Lets have a recap of our safety learning, spread it among all, make our friends & family follow them and ensure zero death. Let this festive season be Lightning accident free.

I appeal to all that please show your learning of Lightning Resilient India Campaign now when monsoon is retreating Thunderclouds are overhead lightning is about to strike and Durga Puja is on . Please take all precautions do not stand under a tree never stand under isolated tree electric pole or water body or isolated tall structures . Pucca building is the safest . You are safe in your car or Bus. Whenever you see lightning please occupy safe shelter that is Pucca building. Durga Puja should always be done ideally under a covered Auditorium. In case not, lightning protection should be catered for .

As we are in the final phase of south-west monsoon I request we have to show an aggressive and active campaign .Lets maintain the tempo- Be watchful ,careful and be safe . Here are Lightning safety once again for you :-

1. During lightning/thunderstorms/rains, never stand under tree . 71% deaths due to lightning can be avoided with this .

2. When thunder roars, Go indoors – Pucca closed house or car or bus are the safest. Do not stand in verandah .

3. In case you are trapped in Lightning , please occupy Lightning safety position that is crouch position as given below:-

4. Farmers in the field or children in school must identify pucca shelter or set up local made Lightning Conductor device .

Chidren from schools in Jorhat, Assam at Jorhat Agriculture University on 27 Sep 2019

5. Water bodies like pond, river, lake etc be placed out of bound during lightning and rains . Places prone prone to Lightning llike Hilltop be avoided by all

6. In case playing outdoor, take shelter in pucca house .

Lightning is an avoidable death. Precautions and Protection will save Life .

Wish you all a lightning safe Durga Puja.

Lets keep the guard super active specially till final withdrawal of monsoon by 31 October 2019

Released by

Col Sanjay Srivastava

Convener, Lightning Resilient India Campaign

Chairperson, Climate Resilient Observing-Systems Promotion Council (CROPC)

Mob +917667860470

Email id sanjaysonisa@gmail.com

Dated 06 October 2019

Terminal Monsoon on, upscale the Lightning Resilient India Campaign